Good news – the law on scattering ashes in the UK is fairly relaxed you can even scatter or bury them in your garden if you wish.
There is nothing explicit in the legislation to restrict people in disposing of the cremated funeral ashes.
While the regulations may be on your side, the difficultly may come getting permission to scatter or bury the ashes on someone else’s land.
You should have the land owners permission. And certain places are off limits.
Just one piece of advice – you are more likely to get permission and less likely to get disturbed if you chose somewhere in the countryside or wilderness. Local Authorities often don’t like people scattering ashes in public parks and gardens especially in urban areas, because parks are relatively small and a lot of people use them. Also if you wish to conduct a ceremony it is likely that you will not get the privacy or space to make it a special event.
For general advice see our the main section on where to scatter your ashes
The following have a position on scattering ashes, check the pages on more specific subjects:
Those that say YES, if…:
In your own garden: this is absolutely fine. A word of caution, the house or garden may not always be in the family’s possession, so should grandchildren or future generations wish to visit where the ashes are spread they may find it difficult or awkward.
On an family grave: You may wish to scatter or bury someone’s cremated funeral ashes on the family’s grave. If it is a council owned site this should be no problem – just let them know. If it is in a church yard you will need to speak to the vicar or priest, and it is likely they will wish to conduct a service irrespective of your wishes – it is their land and their belief.
Whilst this may not be the decreased belief system, it may be better to do this and have the occasion marked than ending up sneaking in and doing it, as that may leave you feeling deflated. Anyway most clergy are accommodating and we would suggest you ask them what flexibility there is.
Church of England: As a large land own and the country’s leading religious faith – the matter of scattering cremated ashes is governed by Canon B 38.4(b) which provides as follows -
The ashes of a cremated body should be reverently disposed of by a minister in a churchyard or other burial ground in … or on an area of land designated by the bishop for the purpose … or at sea.
The ordinary position therefore is that ashes are to be buried. They may only be scattered if the bishop has designated land for the purpose of the disposal of cremated remains on that land.
We are not in a position to say what land has been so designated. Individual diocesan registries may be able to assist with such information.
Woodland Trust Property: Yes. However, we ask that you do not to hold any kind of formal ceremony in the wood and do not to disturb the ground in any way - www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
Rivers: Environment Agency says the scattering ashes on a river can be acceptable here is the guidance Scattering Ashes on Rivers – www.environment-agency.gov.uk
National Parks: this is down to the individual park. However North Yorkshire says – There is no hard and fast rule. You should start by asking the person who owns the land on which you would like to spread the ashes. The National Park Authorities don’t own the land they are similar to a planning authority. As they say – Not ours – but ours to look after. The National Parks are -
England – Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, the South Downs and the Broads which has equivalent status to a National Park.
Wales – Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast and Snowdonia
Scotland – Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.
National Trust: “The National Trust does not have a formal policy on this but is happy to consider requests on the basis that there are no environmental problems (i.e. possible contamination of water courses or sources, no accompanying permanent or indeed ephemeral markers), that it is not against any wishes that may have been expressed by a donor [of the property], and that the act of scattering the ashes is done discreetly and in private with no interference with others enjoyment of a property. We would also not expect that visitors to the property could see any visual presence of ashes. If these conditions can be met and subject to local arrangements being made with the General Manager or Property Manager at the appropriate property, consent can be granted.” – www.nationaltrust.org.uk
National Trust for Scotland - “The Trust has no formal policy which would cover all situations across the wide range of properties that we have responsibility for in Scotland. The Trust is respectful of peoples’ wishes but must have regard for a wide range of issues including the environmental impact on soils, plants, rivers and streams.
Broad guidelines are available to Trust Managers and any proposal or arrangement for the scattering of ashes or any associated ceremonies should be discussed and agreed with individual property managers beforehand. Contact details are available on the Trust’s website. If proposals are deemed acceptable, the advice given may include specific locations and appropriate times of day with regard for other planned events and consideration for other visitors.
For the avoidance of doubt there would be a presumption against the erection of any sort of memorial, however temporary.” – www.nts.org.uk
Kew Gardens: permits ashes to be scattered. This can be arranged via Kew Constabulary – 020 8332 5121. It can be done any day, and while there is no specific notice period the earlier the better as only one scattering per day is permitted. There is no limit on numbers, and family and friends may stay in the Gardens afterwards if they so wish. There is no charge.
Those that say NO, sorry:
Peaks in Scotland and Wales: Welsh Conservationists and The Mountaineering Council of Scotland has asked bereaved relatives to avoid the most popular sites and even to bury ashes rather than scatter them. It has a significant impact on the plant life. It has recommended that when considering a chosen spot for the disposal of your ashes, people should avoid iconic mountain tops, by opting instead for a corrie, a certain point along a ridge or beside a particular tree on the lower slopes of a mountain. Here is what the Nevis Partnership say.
Forestry Commission: do not allow ashes to be scattered on their land.
If you are somewhere that people like to scatter their ashes and you wish us to let people know what your stance is – tell us…
Recent feedback